- Title: UGANDA: Court charges film producer for screening gay movie
- Date: 13th September 2012
- Summary: KAMPALA, UGANDA (SEPTEMBER 13, 2012) (REUTERS) GENERAL VIEW OF EXTERIOR OF COURT VARIOUS OF FILM PRODUCER DAVID CECIL BEING MOVED FROM HOLDING CELL INTO COURT BUILDING VARIOUS OF CECIL IN COURT BUILDING COURTROOM IN SESSION, MAGISTRATE READING CECIL HIS CHARGES COURTROOM IN SESSION, CECIL IN DOCK MAGISTRATES OFFICIATING OVER HEARING GAY RIGHTS ACTIVISTS JOHN WAMBERE BEING
- Embargoed: 28th September 2012 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Uganda
- Country: Uganda
- Reuters ID: LVAD02NF4TP9UMK33S1N6D8HPOW6
- Story Text: A British film producer was on Thursday (September 13) charged in Kampala, Uganda for "disobeying lawful orders" after screening his short film without proper authorization from the Uganda Media Council.
David Cecil, who produced 'The River and the Mountain' - a drama depicting condition of Uganda's gay community, was denied bail and remanded in custody until September 17.
Gay rights activist, John Wambere said the arrest was a ploy by the government to silence the gay community in the country.
"It is absurd that until the government lets people speak out and people get to know the issue of homosexuality will still remain a debate. Not until the government decides to give the people an opportunity the express themselves. Because it's a message that was coming out to the public and it is a reality that we are among the public, among the society. So for someone who tried to help or bring up a play to educate or sensitise people about the reality of people who are within them he gets arrested and prosecuted," said Wambere.
Cecil, who faces three years behind bars if convicted, said the short film was screened at least eight times in August at little-known theatres in the Ugandan capital.
Uganda was in the spotlight recently for authoring a bill that initially proposed the hanging of gays in the conservative country.
The proposed legislation, first introduced in parliament in 2009, pitted veteran President Yoweri Museveni and the evangelical church on one side against Western donors on the other.
Denounced as "odious" by U.S. President Barack Obama, the proposed legislation has been widely condemned outside Africa, a continent where homosexuality is illegal in 37 countries. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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